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Council Angus

Parish Kirkden

Former Region Tayside

Former District Angus

Former County Angus

Summary Record (1 December 2011 - 26 February 2015)

Gardyne Castle is a substantial laird's tower house with its origins in the 16th century. It is on the 65 metre contour line on the edge of a steep, wooded bank to the east. The Mains Farm lies to the west of the castle which is set within garden grounds. The castle is situated some 2 kms south of the A932 Forfar to Friockheim road and approximately 1 km to east of Middleton House.

Information from the Angus Recording Group of the Garden History Society in Scotland, 2015

The eastern block of Gardyne Castle is 16th century, with a round stair-tower surmounted by a square cap-house and a round turret on each angle of the E gable. There is a late 16th century heraldic panel in the S wall. The centre block of the mansion is 18th century and the NW part is modern.

Occupied and in good condition. Name confirmed (information from A Lyell, owner).

It was apparently owned by Gardyne of Leys before being acquired by the Lyells.

Visited by OS (JLD) 13 June 1958.

D MacGibbon and T Ross 1887-92.

No change.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 12 May 1966.

NO 5736 4879 We undertook outline analytical assessment of this complex building, part 16th-century fortified house, part 18th-century mansion, with later extensions, during February 2007. The eastern part of the building retains defensive features including gun ports and bartizans. The latter are notable for their unusual detailing, with false parapet and conical stone roofs surmounted by coronets. An ex situ date-stone of AD 1568 bearing the arms of James VI and the motto 'God Save The King', serves to strengthen the suggestion that the architecture of the building deliberately associates itself with both the new king and earlier Royal Stewart palace architecture (Holyrood, Falkland, Stirling) perhaps in emphatic reaction to the preceding Marian period. The Gardynes owed their rise to prominence as royal officials within the court of James VI.

NO 5736 4879 We undertook outline analytical assessment of this complex building, part 16th-century fortified house, part 18th-century mansion, with later extensions, during February 2007. The eastern part of the building retains defensive features including gun ports and bartizans. The latter are notable for their unusual detailing, with false parapet and conical stone roofs surmounted by coronets. An ex situ date-stone of AD 1568 bearing the arms of James VI and the motto 'God Save The King', serves to strengthen the suggestion that the architecture of the building deliberately associates itself with both the new king and earlier Royal Stewart palace architecture (Holyrood, Falkland, Stirling) perhaps in emphatic reaction to the preceding Marian period. The Gardynes owed their rise to prominence as royal officials within the court of James VI.